No 2 Marianne Skarpnord of Norway, No 3 Esther Henseleit of Germany and No 4 Meghan MacLaren of England are the top-ranked players to take part in the LET and Thai Ladies Professional Golf Association so-sanctioned event, which is being staged for the third time.

The visitors will be vying to become the first foreigners to hold the winner’s trophy, which has been won by Atthaya Thitikul in 2017 and Kanyalak Preedasuttijit last year.

Also taking part this year are 2018 LET Rookie of the Year Julie Engstrom of Sweden and Briton Annabel Dimmock, who won the previous LET Jabra Ladies Open in Dubai last month.

“I am excited to be going back to Thailand. I really enjoyed playing there last year and I had a good week, which gives me good memories,” said the 18-year-old Engstrom, winner of the 2016 British Ladies Amateur.

“I’m going to prepare as I always do and also keep myself hydrated during the week. The temperature is high and also the humidity, so it’s important to be alert,” added the Swede who finished tied 15th last year.

Dimmock, 22, said: “The Thai girls hit a lot of greens in regulation, I will be trying to do the same. I’m getting a bit more used to their type of grass and the grain on the greens.”

The 50-year-old caretaker coach took responsibility for the widespread disappointment at events in Buri Ram, where he presided over 1-0 losses to arch-rivals Vietnam in the semi-finals and to India in the third-place playoff.

“I want to stop my role as the national coach and give an opportunity for somebody else with proper ability to help develop the team,” said Sirisak, who had been widely criticised for the failure to win the King’s Cup, annual tournament hosted every year by Thailand.

The Kingdom won the Cup in 2016 and 2017 and this year was the first time since 2013 that the host country had failed to even reach the final.

Sirisak and his coaching team, including assistant coach Choketawee Promrut, will sever all ties role with the national team and he will head to Japan to focus on gaining his professional coaching licence.

He denied rumours that he had been approached to take a job with a local club, and said he had mixed feelings about his tenure with the national side.

“I’ve been proud to perform my duty for my country but I’m disappointed that I was unable to help the team win the King’s Cup,” he said. “I hope that Thai football grows and that fans continue to show support for the team.”

Having been an assistant coach, Sirisak made an immediate impact when he was suddenly asked to step up to the top job to replace Milovan Rajevac after Thailand were humbled 4-1 by India in an Asian Cup group-stage game in January.

Despite being handed the job at short notice, Sirisak lifted everyone’s spirits by masterminding a 1-0 win over Bahrain and a 1-1 draw with the United Arab Emirates, results which propelled the team to the knockout stage for the first time.

“Although I may no longer be in the coaching team, I will still cooperate with the Football Association of Thailand in other area,” added Sirisak, who also supervised Thailand to a runners-up finish at the China Cup in March.

His resignation came just two days after under-23 national coach Alexandre Gama also quit, citing unsuccessful results under his charge as his reason.

Pathit Supapong, Thai FA deputy secretary-general on international affairs, said no candidates were yet being considered for the vacancy.

However, he said the association would prioritise finding a new coach for the under-23s, who have the SEA Games coming up in December followed by the AFC U23 Championship in Thailand in January.

The 22-year-old forward from California is trying to recover from the psychological damage caused by Thailand’s 13-0 thrashing at the hands of defending champions USA on Wednesday, the heaviest defeat in the tournament’s history.

“I was disappointed that we lost,” said Suchawadee (birth name Miranda Nild) of her World Cup debut. “But it was not a surprise, the US are a very strong team and they were playing really well.”

The University of California graduate said she was touched to be hugged and consoled by US captain Alex Morgan, who is her idol and attended the same college.

“She said I shouldn’t worry about the match as there are still two more games to play,” Suchawadee added. “She also told me to be happy to have had the chance to play in the World Cup. At that time my tongue was tight so I just said ‘Thank you’ ”.

Thailand are not expected to pose much of a threat to the world No 9 Swedes but Suchawadee hopes the players have learned lessons from the US game and that, combined with knowing they still have support back home, will lead to them putting up a better performance.

“Against Sweden, we have to tighten our defence a lot better. If we play an offensive game, we have to stick to it. We all feel excited but we must stay calm and focused. I hope that fans will continue to support us and we will try to play better,” she added.

Meanwhile, coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian has advised her players not to take much notice of social media, especially negative remarks which threaten to knock their confidence further.

“If they read those messages, they must refrain from interacting with social media users,” she said during a a break from taking a training session at Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann Stadium in Nice. “They have to understand that fans criticise them because they want the team to improve.”

On the Sweden game she said: “We have to be more careful and solid and at the same time seize our opportunities. Several players are injured but we still have to rely on them.”

Sunday’s game kicks off at 8pm Thailand time and will be broadcast live on PPTV.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat began brightly but slipped to 10 shots off the pace, leaving two-time Asian Tour winner Justin Harding of South Africa, plus Australia’s Marcus Fraser and Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa, as the highest-placed Tour members in tied-77th place.

The trio lie eight shots back of the leader, England’s Justin Rose, after they returned with matching 73s at the year’s third major.

India’s Anirban Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour No 1, sits in tied-98th place after posting a 74 while Thai No 1 Kiradech Aphibarnrat took a share of 116th after signing for a 75.

It represented a shocking disappointment for Kiradech, who had soared up the leaderboard after carding three birdies in his first seven holes, including one at the par-three seventh following a magnificent tee shot to within three feet of the hole.

Sadly for Thai hopes, Kiradech then bogeyed three of the next four holes and his misery was complete when he double-bogeyed the 15th and 16th to walk off with a four-over 75 and be at serious risk of missing the halfway cut.

Japan’s Kodai Ichihara also had a day to forget, carding an 80 to end the day tied for 149th.

Half the prizemoney earned by Asian Tour members at the US Open will be counted towards the region’s Order of Merit.

Li, who was brought into the Chinese starting line-up following their opening 1-0 loss to the Germans in Group B, got in front of Bambanani Mbane in the box to turn in Zhang Rui’s delivery five minutes before half-time.

China almost scored again moments later when Wang Shanshan’s header at a corner came off the underside of the bar and bounced down, not quite crossing the line in its entirety.

The former runners-up deserved their victory, played out before just over 20,000 fans at the Parc des Princes, with South Africa lacking quality in the final third despite their efforts.

“This victory belongs to all the players, they deserve it. There will be more battles to come and I hope we can last as long as possible in this tournament,” said China coach Jia Xiuquan.

The Germans, winners of the World Cup in 2003 and 2007, had beaten Spain 1-0 on Wednesday, having already defeated China by the same scoreline in their first match.

They have six points, three more than both China and Spain, who clash on the final matchday, meaning they are certain to finish in the top two places.

The result also confirms France’s passage to the knockout phase from Group A, with the hosts now certain to finish, at worst, as one of the best third-placed teams.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana are still looking for a first point at this, their debut World Cup, but the forgiving format of the tournament means they are not yet eliminated, with four third-placed teams going through out of the six groups.

“I am very proud of the team,” said Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis.

“Obviously the result is not what we wanted but we will dust ourselves off and start looking forward. Each and every player in the squad can really pat themselves on the back for today’s performance.”

Rose, whose round included an eagle at the par-five sixth, vaulted past a quartet of players on five-under par as Pebble Beach showed its soft side in the opening round.

Americans Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Aaron Wise were all in the clubhouse on five-under 66 as Rose stormed home.

The 2013 US Open winner rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the 16th and drained a 26-footer for birdie at the par-three 17th and finally grabbed a birdie from a greenside bunker at the par-five finishing hole.

Tiger Woods is the only other player to post a 65 in the US Open in five prior editions at Pebble Beach — in the first round of his stunning 15-stroke victory in 2000.

A monumental putting display from Woods saw the 15-time major champion sign for a one-under par 70 on Thursday. One-under through seven after three birdies and a double-bogey, Woods parred his last 11 holes.

Two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka headed a group on two-under 69 after a round that included five birdies and three bogeys.

Koepka trying to become just the second golfer to win three straight US Open titles and the first in more than a century, was four-under through six holes. He followed a bogey at eight with a birdie at 12, but faded with bogeys at 13 and 17 before saving par from a cart path at 18.

Scott Piercy and Nate Lashley were tied for sixth on four-under 67 and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy headed a group of eight players on three-under 68.

That group also included reigning British Open champion Francesco Molinari of Italy and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson — who birdied four of his last five holes.

The tournament at the Blythefield Country Club started seven hours late due to a rainstorm, then was suspended for the night with a number of players still waiting to tee off in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The round will continue Friday morning.

American Katherine Perry also shot a 66 in the first round, which featured two holes in one on the same No. 15 hole.

Mariajo Uribe, of Colombia, is in third place after a five under 67 round included a hole in one on the par-three 15. She is one shot back.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson is at four under, after just six holes of play. She ended impressively before play was called for the night, acing the same hole Uribe did.

Sarah Burnham, Lizette Salas, Mina Harigae, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and South Korea’s Ko Jin-young are tied for fourth after shooting 68.

Seven players posted three-under 69s, and two other players are at three under midway through their rounds.

Defending champion Ryu So-yeon of South Korea was at even par through six holes when darkness stopped play.

Before bikes on track it’s always time to talk about the weekend ahead, and on Thursday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya it was a packed pre-event Press Conference featuring no less than seven riders: Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was joined by Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati), Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Moto3™ Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team).

Marquez was first to speak. “Of course I’m happy to arrive in this way to our home GP and yeah after Mugello, you know we arrive in a great moment because normally in Mugello we struggle, this year we struggled but we were there so we’ll see here. In the last years Ducati were very fast, so they will be fast again this year! But we’ll try to do our best and the target is try to work in our garage and on Sunday try to be on the podium. If we have a small chance at the victory we’ll try.

“For me, both the Ducati riders are contenders in the Championship, strong and good opponents, Dovizioso is only 12 points behind me, Danilo 33, everything is very tight, including Rins. We need to keep going try to push and work in the same way as this first part of the season because I feel really good and really confident.”

Next came Dovizioso, who won at the venue two years ago and is, as Marquez says, just 12 points behind him. “For sure 12 points behind Marc at this moment is really positive, we have more points than last year, we’ve been consistent, but we want to get back to winning because if you want to fight with Marc you have to win some races. He’s always there and on a bay day he’s still on the podium and he’s able to try and win the race.

“We are there, we are close but we want something more and we’re working really hard. I’m happy to be here in Montmelo, it’s a really nice track and I think we can be competitive, but as in other years the temperature on the ground and the tyres have more effect than other places, so we will see. The tyres are bit different to the past and I’m confident but we’ll see.”

Rins, as third in the Championship, spoke next. “Well for sure we had an incredible race. When I finished I was very…I thought I was able to win! I fought with all the Ducatis and Hondas but we already knew we would suffer. Positive is we finished less than one second off the win, I enjoyed it a lot, overtaking these guys a lot and it was very fun.”

The man who did eventually take the win in Mugello, however, was Danilo Petrucci, who first talked through the incredible weekend there.

“Fortunately, the celebrating has been not so crazy. I was sleeping at my mothers house so it was important to come back on Sunday in a conscious way! It’s been very nice to win in Mugello after a good race. I wasn’t 100%, this was more special but yeah, the feeling after on Monday on Tuesday was to try again because the feeling after crossing the finish line was amazing. I just started to think that Mugello was the first of good racing. The last three races we always fought for the podium and we want to continue like this. I think here will be more difficult than Mugello, we are four maybe six riders who can fight for the win every race.”

Next, the Italian also clarified some of his post-race comments about helping his teammate to win the title.

“As always the media just took the second part of my thoughts. I already say Andrea give me a lot of help in the winter, especially on the mental side. I want to put in a nice level, helping one another in competition in training and at home. We speak a lot, if I have the chance to win I will try, there are no team orders, but I can maybe give to Andrea a better version of me, be calmer and more relaxed. This was the meaning of helping Andrea. Be there fighting for the podium, two Ducatis, will be very important for me.”

Viñales took over from there; honest ahead of track action although also optimistic. “It’s the same problems. In practice we can show our speed and potential, like in Mugello, then in races sometimes we lost more than a second. It’s frustrating because we prepare the bike well and at race time it changes so much, but I hope for good grip here in Montmelo. It’s a track I really like and last year wasn’t too bad actually and I think this year we have a bit more potential, so I will try and give my best as always, cross our fingers to have good grip in the race and to be able to show our potential. If we can achieve a good result for us it’s important. As an objective, it’s to improve on Mugello.”

He also spoke about his experience at the pre-event, riding a 1970s two-stroke Yamaha up Tibidabo. “It was a different experience, it was a really long time since I rode a two-stroke and I stalled it first time! The bike was strange to ride, skinny and long, so very different to what we’re riding now but it was a great experience. So thanks to MotoGP for the opportunity!”

It was Aleix Espargaro who spoke next, at a true home Grand Prix for the Granollers-born rider. “Pol and myself were born just 5km from here, so it’s always great to come to our home track. I hope we can enjoy a good weekend, the weather looks fine and the track will be full with the crowd. We’re aiming for a good weekend, trying to be a bit closer to the top guys because we’ve been struggling at the start of the season but I hope the positive vibes of the home crowd will help a little bit.

“It’s not enough, my 100%, but it’s the maximum I can do. I try to give everything I have from FP1 to the end of the race but this year it’s not enough, to get in the top ten is very difficult. We need help from Aprilia but I know in Noale they are working hard, so I need to be patient, do my part the best possible, and work hard and wait for new parts to come to improve the bike.”

Finally, Canet took to the mic. Heading into his second home GP of the season he’s three points clear in the Championship, so it’s as close as ever in the lightweight class. “It’s a really difficult fight for Championship, the gap is small with Dalla Porta but we’ll try to do our best possible to fight for the victory this weekend. It’s difficult because young riders, on every lap we fight for the lead, and that’s more difficult. Normally I like to stay at the rear of the group, but in Mugello for example for me it was really difficult to follow the pace of those guys and in the end the position was positive but we need to improve a bit this weekend.”

That’s it from Thursday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, exactly 70 years since the Championship began. Tune in for the rest of the weekend with track action beginning on Friday morning and lights out for the MotoGP™ race on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2).

Top photo L-R: Espargaro, Petrucci, Dovizioso, Marquez, Rins, Viñales, Canet

Marquez is on top as we head into his home round. Can he hit back against Ducati?Petrucci arrives from his first winRins was so close to the podium in Mugello…Dovizioso is only 12 points down, and won at Catalunya in 2017Viñales “crossing his fingers”Aleix Espargaro’s “true” home raceCanet leads the Championship in Moto3™, but by only three points so it’s a pivotal weekend
Riders visit Hospital Universitari Dexeus in BarcelonaL-R: A Espargaro, Arenas, P Espargaro, Fernandez, RabatBefore the Press Conference got underway, there was, much like Mugello, the chance for MotoGP™ to give a little back as Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) were joined by Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing), Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP40) and Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) to visit the famous Hospital Universitari Dexeus-Grupo Quirón Salud in Barcelona to see some of the hospital’s smaller patients.

The riders took mini replica push bikes as gifts from each official MotoGP™ manufacturer for the children, and met a host of different patients who are getting treatment at the hospital – often cited as one of the best in Spain.

Aleix Espargaro: “Dexeus is like my second home because the reality is when my twins were born they were very small so I had to stay here living for five weeks. The hospital is the hospital, it’s not your home, but it’s close to your home because they treated us very, very good, just like all the kids here, so it was like a reminder when I arrived here. To see the kids smiling is the best thing in the world.

“If we can help it’s always welcome. I love to help and again, the kids are the best thing in this world and to see a kid smiling and happy is one of the best things ever. We are lucky people so to give is always great.”

Pol Espargaro: “We are living our dream and a lot of people see us on the TV and especially the kids, who love the motorbikes, so for them to see us and for us to get close to them is a special moment and it gives back to us a great feeling before our home GP so it’s super nice!”

Trying to bring a little sunshine to Thursday: the riders with one of the patientsThere were high fives to give out……as well as gifts!The guys managed to raise a few smiles

A member of the Symetra Tour and the Ladies European Tour, Iturrioz has three career victories worldwide, all in the last seven weeks.

Iturrioz captured her initial U.S. victory on May 13 at the Zimmer Biomet Championship in Auburn, Alabama. She previously won consecutive starts on the Ladies European Tour: Lalla Meryem Cup (played in Morocco), April 28, and the OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic, May 3.

“I’ve been playing the best golf of my career, so I could not be more grateful to KPMG, the PGA of America and the LPGA for allowing me to measure my game against an elite field,” said Iturrioz. “I’m excited to play in a major championship in the United States for the first time, and to do so on a historic golf course like Hazeltine is a dream come true.”

A professional since 2015, Iturrioz is currently ranked No. 164 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. She has risen 231 spots since entering 2019 in the 395th position.

With earnings of $55,250 this year on the Symetra Tour, Iturrioz is presently ranked No. 4 on the Volvik Race for the Card, which annually awards LPGA membership to the top 10 players on the official season-long money list.

Iturrioz is chasing Leona Maguire ($74,993) of Ireland, the top-ranked player on the Race for the Card. In April, Maguire accepted an identical special exemption to play in next week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Iturrioz and Maguire will be part of a 156-player field that includes defending champion Sung Hyun Park, World No. 1 Jin Young Ko and Americans Lexi Thompson, Cristie Kerr and Stacy Lewis.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — a collaboration between the PGA of America, KPMG and the LPGA Tour — continues the rich tradition of the LPGA Championship. Broadcast in partnership with NBC and Golf Channel, the Championship offers a purse among the highest in women’s golf. The event combines an annual major golf championship with the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit and an ongoing charitable initiative (KPMG Future Leaders Program), all focused on the development, advancement and empowerment of women on and off the golf course.

Golf Channel will televise the first two rounds of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (ET). NBC coverage of the final two rounds, Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, will air from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. (ET).

The selected players, maximum age 16, will be trained at the Leicester City Academy and study near the English city for two and a half years.

The 10 teenagers have been selected out of 4,680 candidates from King’s Power Club 2018/2019 tournament and will join their predecessors from the previous season at the highly-rated LCFC academy.

“King Power sees the opportunity to help improve the standard of Thai football through the skills development of young players ,” said Apichet Srivaddhanaprapha Assistant Chief Operating Officer of King Power and Board of Director Leicester City Football Club.

Apichet Srivaddhanaprapha

“Over the past several seasons, children in our programme have successfully developed their football techniques and physical condition and come home as powerful resources for Thai football.”

Steve Healey, International Academy Head coach, said: “ The Fox Hunt Season 4 players will be trained under the full UK standard football programme, which will shape them up for future football career.”

Several players from the first two seasons have made it to the national teams: Anon Samakorn from the first season was recruited for this year’s U22 AFF Championship in Cambodia, Kantapat Munpati, also from season 1, was part of the U19 AFF Championship 2017 winning team in Indonesia and Teerawut Suansan of season 2 was called for the U19 Panda Cup in China earlier this year.

The 10 youngsters will be encamped at the Fox Hunt VS Sport Club in Samut Prakan, where they will prepare their physical condition and take a compulsory English course from June 30.

They will also have two warm-up games with Kakhon Sawan FC on August 18 and Khon Kaen FC on August 25 before their trip to the UK on August 29.

One of the selected players – Tanachot Natin, a 16-year-old goalkeeper from Nakhon Sawan – hopes the overseas training will sharpen his skills and pave way for his football career.

“I will make every effort to make my family proud,” he said. “If I’m well trained, I hope for a great future.”

The 10 selected players are Thanachot Natin, Jirapak Saradee, Suphakit Noiyoon, Panuphong Foosaeng, Thawatchai Aocharod, Niphitphon Wongpanya, Seksan Ratree, Phuket Fueangkhon, Marapee Wani and Natthaphong Jantawong.